Equalizer pedal

Sound color of your signal
An Equalizer pedal adjusts the timbre of your guitar signal. There are two different types of EQ pedals: graphical and (semi)parametric. A graphic EQ pedal consists of a number of fixed frequency bands with which you can add or subtract volume with sliders. These bands have a fixed width and they are set to a fixed frequency. With the slider you only adjust the volume of a specific frequency band. With a (semi)parametric equalizer pedal you can not only adjust the volume, but also the frequency and/or the width of the band.

How to use an Equalizer pedal?
Depending on the place in your signal chain, an EQ has more or less influence on the timbre of your guitar. For example, place the EQ before an overdrive and you influence the ‘voicing’ of the overdrive. For more control over the sound of your overdrive, you can also put the EQ behind the overdrive. But you can also place the pedal in the effects loop of your amp.

What do famous guitarists do?
Well-known guitarists who place an EQ before an overdrive are Slash and Eddie Van Halen. This technique is a bit like that of a treble booster with which you can overdrive certain frequencies. The most famous guitarist who did that is Brian May.